Rupa Goswami was a devotional teacher, poet, and philosopher from the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Alongside Sanatana Goswami he was considered the leader of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan - a highly influential group of devotees made up from a number of disciples of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Rupa Goswami departed from this world in 1564 CE and his samadhi (tomb) is located in the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara temple in Vrindavana.

Srila Rupa Goswami's Pastimes

as told by His Grace Charu Prabhu

Other Books by Srila Rupa Goswami

* Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu: (The Nectar of Devotion) Bhakti-rasamarta-sindhu can be considered to be one of the most important books in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. In this work, Rupa Goswami elaborately describes the gradations of bhakti from its lowest stage of sraddha (faith) up to its highest stage of maha-bhava (ultimate ecstasy in love of Godhead).* Upadesamrta: (The Nectar of Instruction) This is a short work containing eleven verses that gives instructions to aspirants on the path of devotion to Krishna. The Upadesamrta was originally a part of the Stavamala.

* Ujjvala-nilamani: (skt. The Sapphire of Divine Love) This work exclusively explains the conception of madhurya-rasa (divine conjugal love). Ujjvala-nilamani is considered to be a sequel to the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.

* Laghu-bhagavatamrta: (Skt. A Summary of Nectar about Godhead) The Laghu-bhagavatamrta is a summary of Sanatana Goswami's book Brhat-bhagavatamrta. The book begins by explaining the intrinsic nature of Krishna and his incarnations and continues to deal entirely with the devotees of Krishna.

* Lalita-madhava & Vidagdha-madhava: This drama was originally written by Rupa as one drama along with Vidagdha-madhava. However, it is said that Rupa had a vision of Satyabhama, one of Krishna's queens in Dvaraka, who told him to divide the book into two separate dramas. Thus, Lalita-madhava deals with Krishna's pastimes in Dvaraka and Vidagdha-madhava narrates Krishna's pastimes in Vrindavana. These plays were written between 1524 and 1529 CE)

* Stavamala: (Skt. The Flower Garland of Prayers) This is a compilation of short works by Rupa Goswami, some of which are often published as separate books.

* Sri Radha-krsna-ganoddesa-dipika: (Skt. A Lamp to see the Associates of Radha-Krsna) In this book, Rupa Goswami lists the associates of Radha and krishna and describes their characteristics. This work was written in 1550 CE.

* Danakeli-kaumudi: (Skt. The Lotus-like Tax Pastimes) This drama was written by Rupa Goswami in 1549 CE and narrates the 'tax-collecting pastime between Krishna and the Gopis of Vrindavana.

* Mathura-mahatmya: (Skt. The Glories of Mathura) The Mathura Mahatmya tells the glories of Mathura, in the form of a conversation between Varaha (the boar incarnation of Vishnu) and the Earth Goddess. Rupa Goswami explains various processes of devotional service by quoting statements from various Hindu scriptures and establishes that Mathura vanquishes all one's sinful reactions and awards piety and liberation.

* Uddhava-sandesa: (Skt. News of Uddhava) In this work, Rupa Goswami narrates the story from the Bhagavata Purana of Krishna requesting his friend Uddhava to go to Vrindavana and pacify his friends and relations by reminding them of their pastimes with him.

* Hamsa-dutam: (Skt. The Swan messenger) The Hamsaduta tells the story how Lalita, the confident of Radha, sends a messenger in the form of a swan to Krishna in Dwaraka.

* Sri Krsna-janma-tithi-vidhi: This short work of Rupa Goswami's is a paddhati (manual on ritual worship) explaining the process of worshiping the deity of Krishna during the festival of Janmastami, the birthday of Krishna celebrated by Vaishnavas in August/September.

* Nataka-candrika: (Skt. The Illuminating Moon of Dramatics) This book explains the rules of Gaudiya Vaisnava dramaturgy.

All Glories To His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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Introduction

The Bhagavad Gita is a sacred Hindu scripture, considered among the most important texts in the history of literature and philosophy. The Bhagavad Gita comprises roughly 700 verses, and is a part of the Mahabharata.

The content of the Gita is the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna taking place on the battlefield before the start of the Kurukshetra war. Responding to Arjuna's moral dilemma about fighting his own cousins, Krishna explains to Arjuna his duties as a warrior and elaborates on different Yogic and Vedantic philosophies, with examples and analogies. This has led to the Gita often being described as a concise guide to Hindu theology and also as a practical, self-contained guide to life. (Wikipedia)

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Japa Quotes

The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent; therefore when a devotee chants Hare Krsna, Krsna and His internal potency are dancing on the tongue of the devotee. (Srila Prabhupada - Bhagavad Gita As It Is 12.8p)

O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them. (Lord Chaitanya - Sikshashtaka 2)

One achieves bhakti (love of God) by hearing and chanting about the Supreme Lord's special qualities, even while engaged in the ordinary activities of life in this world. (Sri Narada Muni - Narada-Bhakti-Sutra 37)

Prema (divine love), the fruit of the creeper of bhakti, grows on the creeper only when she attains to the feet of Krsna. All the time the gardener continues to splash the creeper with the water of hearing and chanting the holy name of Krsna. (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura - Treasure of Bhakti)

The materialist thinks that persons engaged in Krsna Consciousness are crazy fellows wasting time by chanting Hare Krsna, but actually he does not know that he himself is in the darkest region of craziness because of accepting his body as permanent. (Srila Prabhupada - Srimad Bhagavatam 3.30.3p)

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